Carbureting apparatus



J. RUTHVEN.

Oarbureting Apparatus. 4 No. 234,108. Patented Nov. 2,1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEQ JOHN RUTHVEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CARBURETING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,108, dated November2, 1880,

I Application filed October 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RUTHVEN, of the city and county of St. Louis,and State of Missouri, have invented anew and useful Improvement inGarbureting Apparatus, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1represents a side elevation of the apparatus embodying my invention, andFig. 2 represents a vertical section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

This invention relates to that class of carbureters in which air isforced through a series of chambers arranged in stories above oneanother and containing hydrocarbon.

It consists in the peculiar construction and combination of the partswhich constitute the carbureting apparatus and the devices inclosin gthe same, as hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

A designates the oarbureting-chamber, and B .the inclosing. water-casecompletely surrounding said chamber.

0 designates the inlet-pipe for the hydrocarbon fluid, which fluid flowsfrom the fountain a. Said pipe is bent so as to pass below the bottom ofchamber A, and then up through said bottom and packing-chamber D to theuppermost comparment of said carburetingchamber A. The packing chamberor cylinder D is nearly filled with absorbent material, I), andsupported by the horizontal inner partitions of carbureting-chamber A,so as to 00- cupy a central position with respect to saidcarbureting-ehamber. The bottom of cylinder D is perforated, so as toallow the passage of air in an upward direction, while retaining thepacking within said cylinder or packing-chamher.

The vertical passages or short tubes a allow liquid and air to passdownward from one compartment of carbureting-chamber A.

In the upper part of the space inclosed by watercase B is a rotary fanor blower, E, consisting of suitable blades carried by a spindle, c,which has one of its bearings in the wall of the case and the other inthe end of an air-pipe, F, which has an inlet-branch d. Said pipe Fdischarges into pipe 0, so that the air and the hydrocarbon fluid enterthe carbureting-chamber through the same pipe.

The train of spring-driven gearing e, which operates blower E, isinclosed in a water-casing, G, attached to case B. The water within saidcasing G keeps said gearing submerged to a plane above the line of axis0, thereby sealing and lubricating the bearing of the latter, and thusdispensing with the ordinary need for packing and stuffing boxes.

After the carbureting-chamber is charged with hydrocarbon fluid fromfountain a the rotation of said blower E causes a current of air toenter inlet 01, and pass thence through pipes F O to the upper part ofcarburetingchamber A. Leaving pipe 0 at this point the air passessuccessively through each of the compartments of said chamber, followinga downward course, and becoming enriched by hydrocarbon vaporin itspassage. It then rises through absorbent packing b, which acts as afilter, until it reaches the upper end of packingchamber D. It thenenters outlet pipe H, which conducts it to the point where it is to beutilized.

(lasing B is supplied with water, which surrounds carbureting-ehamber A,and partly submerges blower E. The height of the water is regulated by awater-gage, p. The water, besides sealing'the bearing of spindle orshaft 0, protects the carbureting-chamber A against fire. It may bedrawn off through an opening, a', near the bottom of case B, and itstemperature may be raised by admitting heated air through pipe L, orlowered by admitting cool air through opening a. Said inlets areprovided with detachable caps.

In winter the raising of the temperature is often very essential to theoperation of the machine. To effect this conveniently and automaticallyI extend the outlet-pipe Hupward to a point near inlet L, and cause itto discharge partly or wholly into a cross-pipe, J, which has burnersand reflectors g It on each side of said inlet L. By igniting the gas atthese burners the air surrounding inletLcan be kept heated, and inconsequence the water surrounding the carbureting chamber will be heatedalso. The machine is thus its own safeguard against freezing.

The above devices may also be applied to other uses, and the gas may beshut off from said burners when not needed.

I am aware that it is not new to cause the air and hydrocarbon fluid toenter a carbureter through the same pipe, or to cause the carbureted airtopassthrough packing before leaving the apparatus, or to innnerse theoperative gearing in water, which seals the hearing of the blower, or toarrange the compartments of a carbureting-chamber in stories above oneanother, or to place a cylindrical chamber in the middle of saidearburetingchambers. I do not claim, broadly, any part of the foregoing.

Vhat I do claim is- 1. In combination with a carlmreting-chamher and arotary fan exterior thereto, a pipe conducting: airt'rom said (an tosaid chamber, and an exterior casinginclosing said chamber JOHN RUTHVEN.

Witnesses:

Jon: A. \VIEDERSHEIM, A. 1. GRANT.

